Allardyce rages at ‘diabolical’ refereeing mistakes in loss to Liverpool
Sam Allardyce was incensed by the goal West Brom had ruled out in their dramatic 2-1 loss to Liverpool.
Already relegated, West Brom were playing for nothing but pride, but it still meant a lot to Allardyce. They were on the verge of a draw before conceding in the most extraordinary circumstances. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson headed in the winner from a corner in the last seconds of stoppage time.
It denied West Brom what would have been a well-earned draw. But the story could have been different.
Both sides had goals ruled out for offside in the second half. The decision to chalk off Liverpool’s was a simple one but as for West Brom’s, there was more controversy.
Matt Phillips was deemed to be obstructing Alisson’s view from an offside position as Kyle Bartley tapped home a goal that would have put the Baggies 2-1 up.
Allardyce simply couldn’t get his head around the decision.
He told the BBC: “Hal Robson-Kanu could have had a hat-trick today. He scored one, then it was good defending and good goalkeeping. Then you turn to VAR and ask why on earth was that disallowed?
“If down at Stockley Park they said that’s right then that’s nonsense. If they say the referee or the linesman disallowed that goal it’s a disgrace.
“There is no interference with the goalkeeper whatsoever. All those things people say they have to do to stop the goalkeeper saving it… If there was nobody there he still wouldn’t have saved it. It’s baffling!
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“Sadly from what should have been a winning position we ended up with a loss. Liverpool had a free-kick which shouldn’t have been a free-kick and should have been a drop ball.
“If we are to get anything from Liverpool we needed a bit of luck and nothing from VAR or the officials and unfortunately we got that.
“[The referee] is supposed to know the rules. He got that wrong. I can only point out to say how disappointed I am that an experienced referee can make a mistake like that. The other goal is beyond belief. It’s absolutely diabolical.”
Allardyce reacts to Alisson winner
In the end, West Brom were denied by an unlikely Liverpool hero. Alisson became the first Reds goalkeeper to score in the Premier League era.
Allardyce wanted to see the extra man picked up by his team but praised the quality of the goal.
He said: “Both the quality of the cross and the header were brilliant. If we had someone marking him it might have been better but it’s not to be. It’s bitterly disappointed.
“Results make us feel good. We have been killed by a last-minute goal which is our fault but also what’s happened prior to that. We wouldn’t have lost this game had they allowed the second goal.”
The attention will soon turn to Allardyce’s future, with two games of the season left. He has promised a decision will be made before the final game of the campaign against Leeds, but isn’t giving anything away until then.
Asked about his future, he said: “I wouldn’t answer that even if I knew. The decision will be before the Leeds game.”
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